[Zn(bim)2] · (H2O)1.67: A metal-organic open-framework with sodalite topology

The new coordination polymer formulated as [Zn(bim) 2 ]·(H 2 O) 1.67 (Hbim = benzimidazole, bim = benzimi-dazolate) has been synthesized and shown by single-crystal structural analysis to be a three-dimensional network with the 4 2 6 4 sodalite topology, constructed by tetrahedral building blocks, [Zn(bim) 4 ] 2− . Each sodalite cage defined by the 24 zinc atoms at the apexes centers hosts 10 water molecules (ca. 18% occupancy).